Machine for using side seams of metal cans, &amp; c.



N0. 671,546. Patented Apr. 9, I901.

J. GERSANT & A. G. BUTTIFANT. MACHINE FOR FUSING SIDE SEAMS 0F METALCANS, 8w.

(Application filed Oct. 22. 1900. J

. 4 Shaets-Sheet I.

.No Model.)

WA/mum:- v Mam/Mm \QWJAV Ms. MM G (A aAMM 9m Kampam: mourns 9mm c0.moYou'n-n. wpsuluorom n. c.

No. 67|,546. Patented Apr. 9, l90l.

(Application filed Oct. 22, 1900.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

9M m. 9044M- na M w d-4A sen WW- I W? k (Wm/Wm.

Tu: uoRms Pzvzns 00., PHOTO-UTHD., wmnmm'on, n. cy

No. 67|,546. Patented Apr. 9, l90l.

' .1. GERSANT & A. a. BUTTIFANT.

MACHINE FOR FUSING SIDE SEAIS 0F METAL CANS, &c.

' (Application filed Oct. 22, 1900.) (No Model. 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

WM/vumm 3mm P WWW/U16.

TH-E dams virus 00.. momu ua. wnsnmsron. n. c.

No. 67l,546. Patented Apr. 9, mm.

.1. censmn & A. a. BUTTIFANT. MACHINE FUR FUSING SIDE SEAMS 0F MET ALCANS, 8w.

(Application filed Oct. 22, 1900.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J ULES GERSANT, OF LARKHALL RISE, AND AROHIBALD GEORGE BUTTIFANT,

OF LEE, ENGLAND.-

MACHINE FOR F usmc SIDE SEAMS OF METAL CANS, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 671,546, dated April 9,1901.

Application filed October 22, 1900. Serial No. 331932. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JULEs GERSANT, a citizen of the French Republic,residing at 1 Netherford road, Larkhall Rise, in the county of Surrey,and ARCHIBALD GEORGE BUTTI- FAN'I, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at 32 Southbrook road, Lee, in the countyof Kent, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machinesfor Fusing the Side Seams of Metal Cans and Like Receptacles, of whichthe following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in machines for fusing the sideseams of metal cans and like receptacles by the process of fusingtogether within the seams the coating with which the metal from whichthe cans and receptacles are made, the machines being designed moreespecially for use in the manufacture of cans and the like made fromtinned iron sheet.

We attain our object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- T Figure 1 is a side view of one half of themachine; Fig. 2, a part-sectional side view of the other half of themachine. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively plans of the portions shown byFigs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a front view of a detail.

Supported on suitable standards a, attached to a base-plate or othersurface 17, we provide a table a, at a convenient height above thesurface b. Below the table 0 is an air-chamber d, in communication witha blower of proper capacity. At the bottom of the airchamber dis astuffing-box 6, through which passes the vertical shaft f, the lower endof which is supported in the foot-step g. To the vertical shaft f isbolted the revoluble platform h, having below it the air-pipe 2', whichcan rotate at the same time as the table h in the stuffing box j, formedin the table 0. Above the rotatable platform It is a gaschamber' 70,into which gas enters through holes l in the gas-pipe m, passing throughthe stu fling-box n. At the lower end of the pipe l is a plug 0, steppedin a recess in the upper end of the shaft f. Outside the gas-chamber 7.5is the air-gallery p, communicating with the air-pipe i and chamber d byholes q. At intervals around the periphery of the table h are thesaddle-shaped mandrels a", each having an open top covered with a steelplate 3', on which rests the seam of the tin t to be op erated on.

Provision is made for taking tins of more than one length, L-sectionedvertical guides it slidable on the horizontal guides i), whichthemselves are slidable on pins 10, so as to allow of two of more thanone diameter being held on the mandrel. These guides u and '0 areretainablein their required position by set-screws 10. Below the steelplate 3 is a burner to, perforated along its upper side. Gas is suppliedto the burner from the gaschamber 76 by the pipe 11 having theregulating-tap z, and air is admitted by the pipe A, communicating withthe airgallery p, the pipe A being furnished with a regulatingtap B.

The vertical shaft f is rotated through a portion of a completerevolution equal to its division by the number of man drels r by thefollowing means: On the shaft f is the ratchetwheel 0, with whichengages the pawl D, carried by the link E, the arm F of which is pivotedto one end of the reciprocating rod G, furnished with the shoulder H. Tothe rod G is attached one end of a cord or equivalent J, which passesover the pulley K and is provided with a weight L, which tends to drawthe rod G away from the shaft f and so to pull the shaft f and table haround to the extent of one tooth of the ratchet-wheel G. The rod G ispushed toward the shaft f for the purpose of taking up another tooth ofthe ratchet-wheel C by the following means: Pivoted at M to a plate N,attached to one of the supports a,is a lever O, the upper end of whichis pivoted at P to one end of the connectingrod Q, the other end ofwhich is pivoted to the crank R on the shaft S, carrying the spurwheelT. The spur-wheel '1 is operated by the pinion U, free to slide with onepart of a clutch V on the driving-shaft W, which carries the other partX of the clutch and also the fast pulley Y and the loose one Z. A

X into engagement with one another, and the part of the clutch marked Vis hinged at b to the shaft 0, free to turn in end bearings (1, carriedby brackets 6, attached to the table 0. v j the roller f, on which themandrels 0" rest when in position for the tin to be operated on by thepressing-roller to be hereinafter mentioned. As the mandrels r aresaddle ones, a bridge-plate f is provided to rest on the roller f whenthe mandrel ris in position, the roller f keeping each mandrel at theright height above the table a as it comes into position.

which is kept normally at right angles to the shaft 0 by a spring 71.The lever h has a hooked end j to receive a pin 70, one of which isprovided on each mandrel r, so as to arrest the individual mandrels asthey come into position to have the seam rolled down. There is also anarm I standing out fromthe shaft;

0 and having its outer end attached to one;

. normal position during the intervals between} the mandrels r reachingit, which position is one of inclination in the opposite direction toljthat occupied when it is arresting the move-. ment of a mandrel bycatching a pin it in itsi hookj.

The seam of the can is rolled and pressed. by the roller 71, carried atone end of a lever; 0, pivoted at n to one end of the reciprocatfl ingharp, a recess in which bar receives the; other end of lever 0, theroller being kept; down by the upward action of a spring q be-' tweenthe lever end and the bottom ofthe recess. The reciprocating bar 19 isfree. to

. run in the guides 1", attached to the bed a,

so as to move the roller m in and out of the tin can being operated onand press down'the seam. The reciprocating bar 19 is moved to and fro bythe vibrating lever s, pivoted at t to the base-plate b. The vibratinglever s is linked to an adjustable piece it, provided on thereciprocating bar 1), by which piece u the throw or travel of the bar10' can be altered to adapt the machine to boxes of various lengths. Thevibrating lever s is moved to and fro by a bolt 1), passed through aslotted arm 11) of the spur-wheel T. The slotted arm to and the slot atin the vibrating lever 8 permit of the before-mentioned adjustment ofthe travel of the bar 19 by moving the adjustable piece it to therequired extent along the bar 10. v

The following provision is made for releas-l ing a mandrel when the tincarried by ithasi had its seam pressed by the roller m and its place isto be taken by the immediately succeeding mandrel bearing another tin. Arod y is free to run to and fro in suitable guides: and is provided withupstanding pins 2. At

one end of the rod y is a beak A, pivoted One of the brackets e carries.also,

thereto at B, and behind'this beak is a spring C, pressing against theback of beak A. Behind the hook j of the lever m is a projection D-,andon the adjustable piece to and in the same plane as the pinsz is a pinwhich alternately strikes the pins .2. When the piece u'is on itsbackward journey, its pin strikes one of the pins 2, so as to cause thebeak A to pull on the projection D and draw the hookj clear of the pinIt and so allow the mandrel to pass on to the extent the table h ismoved by one tooth of the ratchet-wheel C, whereupon the lever m ispulled upward by the spring m, to be pushed back again when To the shaft0 is hinged at g a lever h,

the pin k of the succeeding mandrel 7' comes in contact with it. Theforward journey of the piece 11, in the meantime strikesthe other of thepins z and pushes the beak A over the projection D, the spring 0yielding sufficiently to allow it (the beak A) to pass and force it intoposition to again pull on the projection D on the backward journey ofthe reciprocating bar 1).

Any suitable means may be provided to prevent or lessen concussion whenthe table h is moved around step by step. Such means may consist of pinsE, hanging fromthe platform 71,, which pins, as the platform movesaround, press back one end of a lever F, pivoted to a bracket G,attached to the table 0. This lever F has attached to it one end of aspiral springH, the other end of which is attached to a bracket J,fastened to the table 0. When the movement of the platform h'has causedthe pin It of a mandrel to pushbac'k the lever 71, the pin E willgo outof contact into the lever F and pass on, leaving the lever F to be drawn"back by the spring H,-the outer end of the lever F striking against thebuffer K, provided at one end of aboltL, carried'in abracket M, attachedtothe table 0.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Assuming, first, thattheburners x areall in action; second, that there is a can on eachmandrel 'r, with its fluxed seam resting on the plate 8, and, third,that the weight L has drawn around the table it to the extent of half atooth of the ratchet wheel 0, then the lever m will be drawn over by thespring m and the partsv and w of the clutch disengaged and the gearingout of action. Assuming, also, that the various parts have been soassembled during construction that under the above conditions, fourth,the bar 1) is at the end of its back stroke; fifth, that the lower endof the lever 0 is also at the end of its return stroke and out ofcontact with the shoulders H, and, sixth, that the beak A is on theforward side of the lever m, then when the weight L completes themovement of the table it to the full extent of one of the teeth of theratchetwheel O the pin 70 of one of the mandrels 1" will push back thelever m and revolve shaft 0 suflicie-ntly to cause the two parts 11 andw of the clutch to engage with IIO one another and set the gear inmotion. The bar p will now be pushed forward, so that the roller n willpass into the can and press down the seam which rests on the plate 3.The lever 0 will also have pushed forward the rod G, so that the pawltakes up a position to pull around the table h to the extent of onetooth of the ratchet-wheel 0 when contact of the lower end of the lever0 is removed from the shoulderH of the rod G. On the return stroke ofthe bar 1?, drawing the roller 01, out of the tin, the pin on theadjustable piece to will come in contact with that one of the pins a" onthe bar g, which will draw rearward the beak A and push backward thelever m, whereupon the leverm will resume its nominal position by theaction of the spring m and put the clutch'u and it; out of engagement,and the lower end of the lever 0, having also reached the end of therear movement, the weight L will draw the rod G backward and cause theratchet-wheel G to advance the tabe of circular or other than saddlecross-section, so that the tin if instead of being quite outside it,with the exterior of the seam resting on the plate 3, may be slid overit, in order that the mandrel is inside the tin and the plate sincontact with the interior of the sea m instead of with its exterior.This is essential in the case of decorated tins. In some cases also weprefer to have the air-chamber (1 above the platform It instead of belowthe table 0. Provision may also be made for more than one reciprocatingbar 10 and its accessories on one machine.

It is to be clearly understood that the tins operated upon by the rollern are so operated on after the seams have been heated sufficiently tofuse the coatings within the seam, and not till then.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. In machines for fusing the side seams of cans and the like, a table;standards supporting the said table; a revolnble platform above the saidtable; a vertical shaft carrying the said platform; means forintermittently moving the said shaft and platform through a portion of acomplete revolution; an air-chamber above or below the said platform; anairgallery above the said platform; means for supplying air to the saidair chamber and gallery; a gas-chamber above the said platform; meansfor conveying gas to the said gas-chamber; saddle, circular or othercrosssectioned mandrels arranged equidistantly and radially around thesaid platform; burners within the said mandrels; regulatable means forconveying gas from the said gaschamber to the said burners; regulatablemeans for conveying air from the said airgallery to the said burners;longitudinallyadjustable guides on the said mandrels to accommodate cansof various lengths; transversely-adjustable guides on the said mandrelsto accommodate cans of various diameters; a reciprocating bar; a rollerat one end of the said reciprocating bar; means for giving intermittentto-and-fro movement to the said reciprocating bar; means for detainingeach mandrel while the can carried by it has its side seam pressed bythe roller at the end of the said reciprocating bar; means for releasingeach mandrel after the side seam of the can carried by it has beenpressed by the roller at the end of the reciprocating bar; means forputting out of operation all the gear (except that for moving theabove-mentioned platform) while one mandrel and its can succeed theimmediately-preceding one in the position to have the side seam of thesaid can pressed by the roller at one end of the said reciprocating bar;and means for preventing or lessening concussion caused by theintermittent movement of the above-mentioned platform substantially asdescribed and illustrated.

2. In machines for fusing the side seams of cans and the like, a table;standards supporting the said table a revoluble platform above the saidtable; a vertical shaft carrying the said platform; means forintermittently moving the said shaft and platform through a portion ofacomplete revolution; an air-chamber above or below the said platform;an air-gallery above the said platform; means for supplying air to thesaid air chamber and gallery; a gas-chamber above the said platform;means for conveying gas to the said gas-chamber; saddle circular orother cross-sectional mandrels arranged equidistantly and radiallyaround the said platform; burners within the said mandrels; regulatablemeans for con veying gas from the said gaschamber to the said burners;regulatable means for conveying air from the said air-gallery to thesaid burners; longitudinally-adjustable guides on the sa id mandrels toaccommodate cans of various lengths; transversely-adjustable guides onthe said mandrels to accommodate cans of Various diameters; a pluralityof reciprocating bars; a roller at one end of each of the saidreciprocating bars; means for giving intermittent to'and-fro movement tothe said reciprocating bars; means for detaining the mandrels while thecans carried by them have their side seams pressed by the rollers at theend of the said reciprocating bars; means for releasing the mandrelsafter the side seams of the cans carried by them have been pressed bythe rollers at the ends of the reciprocating bars; means for putting outof operation all the gear (except that for moving the above- I mentionedplatform) while the mandrels and cans are moving into position to havethe-side seams of the said cans pressed by the rollers at the ends ofthe said reciprocating bars; and

means for preventing or lessening concussion caused bythe intermittentmovement of the above-mentioned platform substantially as described andillustrated.

Witnesses WALTER ALBERT GREEN, ARTHUR .OARRICK.

